Seventh heaven for Wales battlers

WALES U20 ...................... 25 ITALY U20 ........................ 24

WALES showed grit and determination to win a game that looked beyond them for large parts to claim seventh spot in the World Rugby U20 Championship with a 25-24 victory against Italy at Avchala Stadium.

Jason Strange’s side looked like they were heading for a humiliating defeat when 24-15 down but replacement centre Connor Edwards hauled his side back into the game with a blockbusting run with his first touch of the championship, which ultimately led to Phil Jones scoring out wide. Arwel Robson’s conversion brought Wales to within two points with 13 minutes remaining.

The game swung in Wales’ favour five minutes from time when Italy flanker Jacopo Bianchi saw red for a high shot on Robson. Jones stepped up to take the penalty and he showed nerves of steel to give Wales the lead – an advantage they somehow managed to keep until the final whistle to secure their second scalp of the campaign.

Italy opened the scoring in the seventh minute when fly half Antonio Rizzi eased over a penalty. He then made Owen Lane pay for a tackle that didn’t involve any arms and he landed a penalty from inside his own half with ease to double his tally. Robson halved the deficit three minutes later when centre Marco Zanon was yellow carded for pulling the fly half back from a quick tap.

Robson was to the fore in the 29th minute when he danced his way through a posse of Italian defenders on the halfway mark. Jones linked up well and sent long striding second row Callum Bradbury to the try-line unopposed. Robson’s conversion put Wales 10-6 ahead and with their noses in front for the first time of the match.

Rizzi clawed back three more points with his third penalty of the afternoon before Wales scored the try of the tournament.

Winger Ryan Conbeer put Wales 15-9 ahead at the break but Italy stunned Wales with a try within two minutes of the restart. Robson has a clearance kick charged down and winger Giovanni D’Onofrio picked up the pieces and dived over.